Vibram Five Fingers Shoes

[tinkerfan1]

Anybody have any experience with these? Do you know where you can find them other than the main website or amazon? My son wants them and I can't seem to find his size anywhere. They really are cool and are supposedly like being completely barefoot. Great for running, walking, hiking, you name it.

 

[tinkerfan1]

Found 'em at Half Moon Outfitters. Never mind. He loves them. I think I may need to get me a pair of Sprints. Funky but cool.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

DH & I saw a woman wearing those on our disney cruise, they looked odd but kinda cool at the same time

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Are you going to be walking in them or running? There is apparently a very large learning curve with them. It's a pretty hot debate topic in the running community right now. Overall, it's advised to transition to using them slowly.

 

[tinkerfan1]

DS13 has been using them part of the day since he got them. He has played quite a bit of basketball in them with no problem. Yes, the people at the store were sure to tell us that you should definitely transition into them. However, DS says he is going to wear them to school tomorrow. We'll see if he comes home with aching calf muscles. As for me, I have trouble walking (MS) so I'm thinking they might help me just because they would be more like being barefoot. I could be wrong. An awful expensive lesson if I am. I have to wear flat shoes and I can't keep flip flops on my feet. So, I was looking for something fun for summer other than sneakers or sandals that I will walk out of. We'll see, though.

 

[LJC1861]

My sister wears them and swears by them! She has pretty severe plantar fasciaitis(sp) and has a difficult time with any kind of shoes. She also has a pretty back. Wearing her 5 finger shoes have helped to alleviate both problems. She works at REI and sells lots of pairs of these shoes every week.

Linda

 

[JLiz]

My boyfriend has a pair and LOVES them! He wears them all the time for around town errands and has started to run in them. I'd like to get a pair for running soon.

 

[mamacatnv]

My DS has several and wears them almost exclusively. He loves them. He walked all over San Francisco in them in March with no issues.

They do have a break in period so that the muscles in your feet can get used to them.

Scheels All Sport and REI carry them. Our Scheels cannot keep them in stock, they fly off the shelves as fast as they come in.

DS has severely flat feet, plantar fasciatis (sp?) and works P.T. in retail, these are the first shoes he can wear for an 8 hour shift and not have sore feet or a backache.

 

[SDSorority]

Anybody have any experience with these? Do you know where you can find them other than the main website or amazon? My son wants them and I can't seem to find his size anywhere. They really are cool and are supposedly like being completely barefoot. Great for running, walking, hiking, you name it.

I WANT THESE. They look silly, but I'm a hippie so I don't mind it

 

[hamletthe]

yup check them out here: barefootrunningshoes.org/vibram-fivefingers/men/

 

[Magic Mom]

REI sells them. I was just looking at the catalog yesterday and thinking how cool they looked. I want a pair.

http://www.rei.com/search?query=vibram+five

 

[kehlyrsmom]

My husband has two pairs that he bought last spring. He really likes them we went on an adults only trip in May to the WDW for 6 days and he wore them most days we were there I can think of a couple of days that he did not. He purchased them at our local running store. He said that the sizing is odd and that you really need to try them on.

In his opinion it is exactly like walking barefoot, he does a little running in them but he is not really a runner.

 

[Coach K]

Call your local athletic shoe store. Don't go to a chain store-they basically do not know much about them. There is a learning curve in using them. You have to break them in just like the old days. It is getting the legs used to them. I know someone who has a pair and he said that it is better to stay off of the roads if you are using them for running until the body adapts to them. I have been debating about getting a pair myself.

 

[Lanshark]

My son bought his at Abbadabbas. He loves them and wears them when working out. He is a runner but does not running in them when the area is hilly (like our neighborhood). He does wear them on flat runs.

 

[Buckalew11]

I'm wanting a pair!! I love the idea of running barefoot but am afraid of stepping on something that would hurt my feet. People swear by them.

DH's best friend is an orthopedic doctor and has a pair. He uses them in the water and has not run in them yet though.

If you go to their website you can see what stores carry them in your area. I'm going to try a pair on and hopefully get a pair someday soon!

 

[swanmom]

My DH is a runner and LOVES his! He wears them for regular running and particularly loves them for beach running. However, he found out the hard way that you must follow the advice of the pros and get used to them slowly. Once he properly transitioned, he hasn't looked back and will not run in anything else. An important piece of advice, don't order them online unless you've gone into a store and tried them on. Correct fit is everything with five fingers! (And DH did not end up purchasing his normal size so you can't just go by that.)
Good luck!

 

[mamacatnv]

My DH is a runner and LOVES his! He wears them for regular running and particularly loves them for beach running. However, he found out the hard way that you must follow the advice of the pros and get used to them slowly. Once he properly transitioned, he hasn't looked back and will not run in anything else. An important piece of advice, don't order them online unless you've gone into a store and tried them on. Correct fit is everything with five fingers! (And DH did not end up purchasing his normal size so you can't just go by that.)
Good luck!

Excellent point and the different styles fit differently despite being the same size. They must be tried on
The Vibrams are making a big entry into the running world - they also make socks etc for them as well as they come in different styles for summer or winter etc.
My son loves his, he also sells them and is quite knowledgeable - he really likes selling something that he really loves himself!

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I have 3 pairs of Vibram 5 fingers. I've purchased all of them from REI online and I have them sent to the store for free, and return if need be. Two of the pairs I have are size 37 and the other 39 so they definitely fit differently with each style.

It did hurt initially, but my feet and legs go used to it and it was awesome. The only thing I don't like is they catch water so quickly and don't dry out on the feet well so I've ended up with very wet feet with nothing to change into. But that's mostly my own fault.

One thing I love is how washable they are.

 

[mamacatnv]

FYI - Son and I were discussing his Vibrams last night and how his store Scheels sells them as fast as they can get them.
He noted that Vibram is having issues with knockoffs being sold online. He said that Vibram does not sell to online exclusive retailers, only to retailers with brick/mortar stores ie... Scheels, Rei etc.

 

[JessicaR]

Never heard of em and never saw them. Odd looking!

I'm positive I wouldnt wear them.